BUENOS AIRES Argentina (Xinhua) -- They might not have finished among the
leaders, but Eritrea’s 14th placing in the time trial
element of the girls’ combined team cycling event at the Youth
Olympics was secondary to participating.

Poland’s Marta
Jaskulska and Wiktoria Kierat were second, 12.48 seconds behind,
while Italy’s Sofia Collinelli and Giada Specia crossed the line
in third place, 13.56 seconds off the lead.

Kidane said she was
happy simply to be a part of the competition in Buenos Aires,
given cycling’s high profile in the African nation.

“Cycling is
definitely our No. 1 sport,” Kidane said after Saturday’s time
trial at Bosques de Palermo. “I’ve loved it ever since I was a
little girl, we all do. We have so many great cyclists to look
up to in our country, like Daniel Teklehaimanot.

“They are our role
models. Daniel is a hero to kids in Eritrea, the same way
footballers might be in other countries. I love him. To see him
competing in the Tour de France is amazing. He’s probably the
most famous Eritrean in the world. Others, like Merhawi Kudus,
have followed.

“We had the posters
on our wall, we watch our riders on TV. And many of our athletes
are going on to be professional riders now. It is great.”

The 18-year-old
recalled the sacrifices that her father made to allow her to
take up the sport as a child.

“Bikes are expensive
and that can be difficult for many Eritreans,” she said. “My
father is a shopkeeper and he worked very hard to save up to buy
me one. I’m so happy he did. It’s so nice to be here at this
Youth Olympics.”